Window operator with a combined temperature and rain responsive control



March 7, 1950 Filed May 7, 1948 wmnow OPERATOY AND RAiN RESPONSIVE CONTROL v. L. VANCIL 2,499,544 R WITH A COMBINED TEMPERATURE 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 2! If 23 4, v 2 9 m 1 z? 23 z; z; j

73 ljn'uentar Attorney March 7, 1950 WINDOW OPE .v. L. VANCIL 2,499,544 RATOR WITH A COMBINED TEMPERATURE RAIN RESPONSIVE CONTROL AND Filed mi 7, 1948 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Almrlluy March 7, 1950 R v. 1.. VANCIL' 2,499,544

wnmow OPERATOR WITH A COMBINED TEMPERATURE AND RAIN RESPONSIVE CONTROL 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed May 7, 1948 Inventor 1/0 L. 11AM.

Attorney March 7, 1950 VANCIL 2,499,544

WINDOW OPERATO WITH A COMBINED sTEMPERATURE AND RAIN RESPONSIVE CONTROL Filed May-7, 19,48 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Inventor you 1. aw/z- Patented Mar. 7, 1950 WINDOW GPERKTOR WITH A COMBINED TEMPERATURE AND RAIN RESPDNSIVE CON TROL V'onL. Vancil, FreeporhzT'ex. Application May' 7,1948, Serial No; 25,607 3 Claims. (01. 268v123 The present invention relates to window-sash control systems and it consists inthe combinations, constructions and arragements of parts.

herein; described and claimed.

Itis an object of the present invention, to provide an apparatus, having automatic means forclosing a, window while it is raining and having; further automatic meansfor opening the same under certain predetermined temperature conditions upon the cessation of rain.

Another object of the invention is. the provision of means for manually controllingthe apparatus above referred to independently of. the-- automatic means.

Another object of the invention is the provision of automatic temperature controlled means for openingand closing a window;

Anotherobject of the invention is the provi sion of means associated with the automatic temperature controlled means for providing a differential in the temperature at which the'window opening means is operated and the temperature at which the window closing means is oper ated;

A further object sion ofmanually operated means for regulating the temperatures and the differentials in temperatures at which the apparatus will automatically function.

Another object of the invention is-theprovi sion of novel rain-operated means and apparatus for opening and closing windows.

Another object of the invention is the" provi sion of novel electrical switches forming'a part-oi" the invention.

A further object. ofthe invention is the provision of novel motor-operated means and-apparatus.connected with the sash cords of a window for moving the window.

Other and further objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading-of the fol-- lowing specification taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

tion,

vention,

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the appa' ratus shown in FigureZ;

Figure ll is a sectional view"taken along-line' 4=-=.4.of: Figure 2,

Figure?) is a s'ectional view taken Eta-(50f FigureZ,

Figure 61isa :sectional' view-taken alongline 6-6 of Figure 2,

of the invention is the provi- Figure 2' is a plan view of a portion ofthe-in along line 2 Figure 7. is a sectional view taken along .line; 1-4 oiFigurewllla Figure 8: is: a sectional view taken. along line. ti -810i- Figure 7,, v

Figure. 9/ is a: fragmentary rear elevational; view of the apparatus shown in Figures '75 and 8,

lower end thereof:

Figure 10 is a sectional view taken along. line I 8i--Hl:ofi Figured,

Figure 1-1 is, au-fragmentary sectional. view taken along line HH of Figure 8,

Figure, 1 2: is. an enlarged sectionali view taken alongrlinel 2-| 2101? Figure 10; t

Figure 13 1558.11: enlarged sectional View taken alongline l 3- I 3:of Figure, 10;,

Figures 14 and 15 are: fragmentary sectional views,, partly in. elevatiom. illustrating certain detailsofconstruction.

Figure 16- is: aw fragmentary front elevational view? ofalsw-itch. forming at partfof. the invention;

Figure 17 is a rean-elevational view-of thelde-- vice showninzFigure 16; and:

Figure -18wis\ a sectional v view taken along line I8-l8iofFigu-re"16:.

Genera-lly'there is provided an apparatus: for automatically opening and: closing windows unden certain conditions of. temperatures and preoipitation; A: reversible-electric motor is; provided, which: isconnected by gearing to aa drum upon which an: upperancla lower sash cord: are oppositely wounda A thermostatically operated electrical switch inechanism. is; provided. tocause the;motor tozlifta'the-window atla certain terns perature' and; to; lower; the: window 4 at. a; certain. different. temperature-.-, Means-'1 is provided. for! manually regulating and-adetermining. such: tam:- peraturesiior. providing aselected differential between: the two; temperatures: Associated with theythermostatic switches isaa bellows actedupon by; precipitation to: causeithe motor to close the window; a-nctautomaticrmeans t-i's provided for normallautomati'c temperature-controlled opera-- tion of the window when thereuisn'o precipit'aw tion. A manually controlledil'switchi is also providedqforr operating. tliazmotorti-nl either direction regardless: of; temperature" oripreci'pitation conditions, ifxdesired'.

Referring more particularly to: they drawingm there: is 'shownu therein: a: window I0: having an: uppersash. cord Ha affixed to one si'deadl'acent the upper end thereof and a lowersash-cord 1 2* aflixedi' to the same" 1 side-- of the window at the The. cord" H i is" trained over guidearollers I3 and M and 1 theme through a transverse passage ISiadjacent one *endofa drumlfi and terminates-in-a knot H; Tliexcordl'fiv trained over guide. rollers l8-and l and-thence through a transverse passage 20 adiacent ttie opposite end of the roller I6 to that adjacent the passage I and terminates in a knot 2|.

The drum I6 is provided with an axle member 22 at either end, which members are revoiubly mounted in journals 23 removably affixed to a base board 24 by means of bolts 25 or the like.

To one of the axle members 22 is afiixed a shaft 26 having a worm gear 27 mounted thereon by means of a collar 28. The gear 21 is enmeshed with a worm screw 29 formed at one end of a shaft 39 journaled in a block 3i mounted on the base board 24. The other end of the shaft 39 is provided with a worm gear 32 which is enmeshed, in turn, with a worm screw 33 carried by a shaft 34 of a reversible electric motor 35 also mounted upon the base board 24. The motor is provided with four contacts 36, 31, 38 and 39.

The contact 39 is connected by a wire 49 to a line wire 4|. The contact 38 is connected by a wire 43 leading through an eye 44 in one side of a control switch box 45 to a contact 46 in a switch housing 47. The contact 3'! is connected by a wire 48 leading through an eye 49 in the box 45 to a contact 59 in the housing 41. The contact 36 is connected by a wire 5I leading through an eye 52 in the box 45 to a contact 53 in a housing 54 which is superposed upon the housing 41.

A contact 55 in the housing 4! is connected by a wire 56 through an eye 51 in the box 45 to one contact 58 of a limit switch 59 and a wire 69 interconnects the wire 5I with the other contact 6| of the limit switch 59.

A wire 62 interconnects a contact 63 in the housing 54 through an eye 64 in the box 45 with a lead wire 65. It is to be understood that the lead wires 42 and 65 connect with a source of electrical energy (not shown).

A wire 66 interconnects a limit switch 61 through an eye 68 in the box 45 with a contact 69 in the housing 54. The limit switch 61 is also connected by a wire I9 to the wire 48 and it is to be understood that the switches 59 and 61 are identical in structure and reference may be had to Figures 16 to 18, inclusive, for the structure of either switch, which comprises a body II of dielectric material to which is fastened a cover plate 12 by means of screws I3. The plate I2 is pro- Aflixed to a standard 99 at the rear of the box 45 and directly between the fittings 85 and 88 is a bellows 9| which is provided with a centrally disposed pin 92 at its free end which pin is connected by means of a cotter pin 93 or the like to one arm 94 of a bell-crank lever having its other arm divided into an inwardly extending portion 95 and a downwardly extending porvided with a centrally disposed opening I4 through which a ball 75 partially protrudes due to the action of a follower l6 which is urged by a spring TI surrounding a shaft I8 of the follower and confined in an opening 19 in the body TI. The free end of the shaft I8 is provided with a transversely extending contact arm 89 which is in normal contact with inwardly extending arms 8I carried by the contacts 58 and BI respectively. The plate 12 is provided with openings 82 for fastening the limit switch in position. The limit switch 59 is placed in the lower part of the frame 83 of the window I9 whereby the lower end of the window sash may come into contact with the ball 75 when the window is in closed, or lowered, position. The limit switch 6'! is positioned in the upper side of the frame 83 when the side of the window sash may come into contact with the ball 15 thereof when the sash is in open, or raised, position.

The top of the box has an inlet pipe connected with a fitting 85 by means of a coupling 86. The inlet pipe leads from the rain gutter (not shown) of the building in which the window I9 is located. A drain pipe 8? is connected with a fitting 88 in the bottom of the box 45 by means of a coupling 89.

tion 96. The bell crank lever is pivotally mounted on the forward face of a forwardly extending wall 91 formed integrally with the standard 99 and a plate 97 which holds the same in position by means of screws 99.

The portion 96 has threaded therethrough an upper set screw I99 and a lower set screw I M which set screws, upon expansion of the bellows 9I are adapted to press against pins I92 and I93, respectively, which pins are respectively slidably mounted in the housings 54 and 41.

In the housing 41 is a three contact reversing switch comprising the contact 45 to the inner end of which is pivoted a rocker arm I94 having contact members I95 and I96 adjacent its outer ends and which are adapted to alternatively contact with the inner ends of contacts 59 and 55, respectively. A spring I91 interconnects one side of the rocker arm I94 and a bracket I98 to normally hold the contact member I95 against the inner end of the contact 59. Depression of the pin I93 will cause the rocker arm to revolve upon its pivot thereby breaking the contact between the member I95 and the inner end of the contact 59 and make contact between the member I96 and the inner end of the contact 55.

In the housing 54 is a three contact switch comprising the contact 63 to the inner end of which is pivotally connected a rocker arm I 99 having contact members H9 and III adjacent its outer ends and which are adapted to alternatively contact the inner ends of contacts 69 and 53, respectively. A spring II2 interconnects one side of the rocker arm and a bracket I I3 mounted in the housing 54. Depression of the pin I92 will cause the rocker arm I99 to rotate upon its pivot and open the contact between the member II 9 and the inner end of contact 69 and make contact between the member III and the inner end of contact 53.

Screws H4 and H5 provided with knobs H6 and I I1, respectively, are threaded into the front of the box 45 and the inner ends thereof are adapted to contact the portion 96 and the arm 94, respectively, of the bell crank lever.

Revolubly mounted in a bracket H8 by means of collars II 9 and I29 is a threaded shaft I2I upon which is threadably engaged a detent I22 provided with a collar I23 surrounding which is a spring I24 which bears against the detent I22 and the portion 95 of the bell crank lever.

The detent I22 is provided with a forwardly extending arm I24 carrying an index plate adjacent an opening I26 in an indicia bearing plate I2'I. The plate I25 has an indicator I28 which protrudes through the opening I26 whereby indici-a I29 upon the plate I21 may be exactly indicated and the box 45 is provided with an opening I39 for viewing the plate I21 and its attendant mechanisms.

In operation, it will be apparent that the apparatus will act to automatically close the window whenever it starts to rain and automatically reopen the same when the rain ceases provided the inside temperature is above that desired and pgeselected by manipulating the Allen wrench .75 I

To illustrate the operation more clearly, let it be assumed that the day is clear and that the thermostat has been at 76 F. with a 4 differential, that is to say, the window is to rise when the room temperature reaches 76 F. and to close when the room temperature drops to 72 F. Again, let us assume that the outside temperature is 74 F. and that there are no heating units in service in the building. Then let us assume that the temperature rises. When the temperature within the building reaches 76 F., the bellows SI will expand causing the portion 96 to move inwardly bringing the set screws I and I DI into physical contact with the pins I02 and I03, respectively, thereby closing a circuit between wires SI and 62 within the housing 54 and between wires 43 and 4B in the housing 41. When this occurs, the motor 35 will run in a counterclockwise movement of the drum I6 thereby to wind the cable I I thereon while at the L 'same time allowing the cable I2 to pay out from the drum It. This will cause the window It! to move upwardly. As the window starts to rise the limit switch 59 will close a circuit between wires 60 and 56 but this will have no effect upon the running of the motor. The window will continue to rise until the sash comes into contact with the ball 15 in limit switch 61 which causes a circuit between wires 66 and ID to be broken, thereby causing the motor to stop running. The window will now remain in open position.

Now let it be assumed that rain begins to fall while the temperature is still above 76 F. The rain will run from the roof and collect in gutters whence it is led by gravity through the inlet pipe 84 whereupon it will fall upon the bellows 9| and thence it will discharge through the drain pipe 81. The rain water falling upon the bellows, being cooler than the air temperature, will cause the bellows to contact thus causing the arm 94 to move inwardly and consequently the portion 96 with its set screws I00 and IIII to move outwardly. This action allows the springs H2 and I0! to force the pins I02 and I 03 outwardly of the housings 54 and 41, respectively, thus causing an opening of the circuit between wires and 62 and the closing of a circuit between wires 62 and 66 while at the same time causing an opening of the circuit between wires 43 and 48 while closing a circuit between wires 43 and 5S.

This action causes the motor to run in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 1, thereby causing the drum I6 to likewise rotate in a clockwise direction and to wind the cord I2 upon itself while allowing the cord II to pay out. Thus this causes the window In to close. As the window starts its downward movement the limit switch 67 closes a circuit between wires '66 and which does not affect the running of the motor. When the window sash comes into contact with the ball I5 of the limit switch 59, the circuit between wires 56 and 60 is opened causing the motor to stop running. So long as rain continues to fall and rain water is passed over the bellows 9I, the window will remain closed.

If the rain then ceases and the inside temperature again reaches 76 F., the window will be raised as heretofore described. However, let it be assumed that while the rain occurred the inside temperature descended to 73 F. In such case the window would remain closed as the bellows would not expand sufiiciently to move the portion 96 whereby to actuate the three way switches in the housings 54 and 41.

To open or close the window without regard to temperature conditions or rain, the knobs H6 and H1 may be manipulated to press against either the arm 94 or the portion 96. Normally, however, both shafts II and H5 are screwed to outward positions so as not to interfere with the automatic operation of the thermostat.

The differential between opening temperature and closing temperature may be regulated by manipulating the set screws Ill!) and IIJI and the operating temperature may be regulated by the Allen wrench I3I. The operating temperature is indicated upon the plate I27 by the indicator I28 through the opening I30 in the box 45.

While but one form of the invention has been shown and described herein, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that many minor modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus of the character described comprising, in combination, a window, a reversible electric motor for opening and closing the window, a source of electrical energy, switches for selectively applying said energy to the motor to operate the same in a forward and in a reverse direction, a bellows type thermostat for controlling said switches, and a precipitation carrying pipe having its discharge end immediately above the bellows of the thermostat,

2. An apparatus of the character described comprising, in combination, a window, a reversible electric motor for opening and closing the window, a source of electrical energy, switches for selectively applying said energy to the motor to operate the same in a forward and in a reverse direction, a bellows type thermostat for controlling said switches, limit switches associated I with the window for cutting off the supply of electrical energy when the window has been moved a sufficient distance, and precipitation controlled means for independently operating the thermostat, said means including a precipitation carrying pipe having its discharge end immediately above the bellows of the thermostat.

3. An apparatus of the character described comprising, in combination, a window, a reversible electric motor for raising and lowering said window, a source of electrical energy, a first elec trical circuit including said motor and source of electrical energy and adapted to move the motor in a direction to open the window, a switch for opening and closing said first circuit, a second electrical circuit including said motor and source of energy and adapted to move the motor in a. direction to close the window, a switch for opening and closing said second circuit, a thermostat including a bellows for selectively operating said switches, and precipitation controlled means for closing the second electrical circuit, said means including a precipitation carrying pipe having its discharge end immediately above said bellows.

VON L. VANCIL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

